Stephanas (Greek: Στεφανᾶς, Stephanas, meaning "crowned",[1] from Greek: στεφανόω, stephanoó, "to crown") [2] was a member of the church at Corinth, whose family were among the limited number of believers whom Paul the Apostle had baptized there [3] and whom Paul refers to as the “first-fruits of Achaia”.
[4][5] He is mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:17: Teignmouth Shore, writing in Ellicott's Commentary for Modern Readers, suggests that Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus had come from Corinth to Ephesus, probably with the letter from the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 7:1) to which Paul was sending a response.
[6] Paul urged the church in Corinth to "be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labours" and to "acknowledge such men".
[7] Stephanas has been supposed by some to have been the repentant “jailer of Philippi” (comp.
[citation needed] The First Epistle to the Corinthians was written from Ephesus some six years after the jailer's conversion, and he was with the apostle there at that time.